Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons^™

Load Monitoring System, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Arvin-Edison Water Storage District received a loan - from the CEC's loan program for the development of new energy conservation technology - in 1995 to develop a program with variable frequency drives. This report discusses the design of the "Load Monitoring System", cost, the need for such a system, initial start-up challenges, configuration options, and benefits.

Irrigation District Service In The Western United States, Charles M. Burt, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Data were obtained from 61 agricultural districts within the Mid-Pacific Region of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation regarding the level of water delivery service provided to users, water pricing, associated characteristics, and plans for modernization. A flexibility index was developed and used by the writers to characterize the degree of water delivery flexibility provided by each district. The flexibility index provides a rating of 3–15 (15 being the highest value) based upon the frequency, rate, and duration of irrigation water delivery service to farmers. The data show that 42% of the districts received a flexibility score of 12 or greater, …

Benchmarking Irrigation, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

A few performance indicators (e.g., “efficiency”) have been included in irrigation jargon for many decades. However, at the Rome meeting we will have a comprehensive discussion on irrigation benchmarking. It will be easy to fall into a discussion of definitions and specifics. Prior to that, it might be helpful to consider the following aspects that will help to set the stage for the details:

Problems Of Irrigation In Developing Countries: Discussion, Plusquellec Herve, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Benchmarking Of Flexibility And Needs - 2000, Charles Burt, Andrew Mutziger, Darren Cordova

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

ITRC interviewed irrigation district personnel from 60 agricultural districts representing approximately 91% of the irrigated acreage within the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation’s (USBR) Mid-Pacific Region.

Data were analyzed to determine the degree of water delivery flexibility provided to farmers and the extent of existing and planned district modernization.

The interview process defined needs for direct technical assistance and training. These needs varied by district and area in California. The Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC) concluded that training programs should incorporate some common classes using the Water Delivery Facility and other resources located on campus at …

Evaluation Of Anti-Fouling Paints, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Algae and other growth on Replogle flumes, often used as flow measurement devices in irrigation canals, can effect the accuracy of measurements in those canals. Research was conducted to find a product that would prevent buildup on the flumes. Hard anti-fouling paint, designed to be applied to concrete rather than fiberglass, wood, steel or iron, was the type of paint used in this study.

Actuators For Sluice Gates — Alternatives To Commercially Available Products, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Gate actuators provide a method of raising and lowering canal gates using electric motors instead of human power. ITRC has investigated four alternatives to commercially available actuators designed specifically for the operation of canal gates.

Current Canal Modernization From An International Perspective, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Modernization differs from rehabilitation, which simply returns a deteriorated project or structures to their original new state. Rehabilitation by itself typically only perpetuates the vicious cycle of rehabilitation, deterioration, rehabilitation, etc. A modern irrigation design is the result of a thought process that selects the configuration and the physical components in light of a well-defined and realistic operation plan that is based on the service concept. A modern irrigation design is not defined by specific hardware components and control logic. Advanced concepts of hydraulic engineering, irrigation engineering, agronomy, and social science should be used to arrive at the most simple …

Case Study: Modernization Of The Government Highline Canal, Stuart W. Styles, Charles M. Burt, Ram Dhan Khalsa, Robert Norman

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The Government Highline Canal Modernization Study was completed to evaluate options for reducing the flow rate requirement of the Government Highline Canal during the late Summer and Fall water delivery months. The intent was to develop a design for which Colorado River diversions could be better matched to on-farm demands. The two primary challenges associated with reducing diversions are that (i) at low canal flows many turnouts do not have sufficient pressure, and (ii) it is difficult to schedule diversions to match deliveries. The Government Highline Canal is part of the federal Grand Valley Project in the Colorado River Basin …

Modernization Of The Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District, Charles M. Burt, Dale R. Brogan

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District (DEID) delivers water through closed reinforced concrete pipelines on an arranged schedule. Farmers are not allowed to operate their own turnouts, and individual turnout flow rate changes impact flow rates at all other turnouts on the same pipeline. DEID is in the process of a complete modernization program which will allow the farmers to operate their own turnouts on a very flexible arranged schedule. The modernization includes (i) a new water ordering program, (ii) new turnout designs with pressure regulators and new flow propeller flow meters, (iii) the use of hand held data recorders to document deliveries …

Case Study: Modernization Of The Patterson Irrigation District, Stuart W. Styles, Charles M. Burt, Mike Lehmkuhl, John Sweigard

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC) at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California has been working in conjunction with the Patterson Irrigation District (PID) on modernization of the district facilities. This project is being partially funded by the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) Mid-Pacific Region. The district is located in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Water supply for the district is pumped primarily from the San Joaquin River. The district utilizes a series of pump stations and canal pools to bring water uphill to supply the lateral canals, which are laid out on the contour. Modernization …

Three Reasons To Broaden Your Fertigation Knowledge, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Hand Held Data Recorder (Hhdr), Charles M. Burt, Stuart Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

A HHDR is used to collect data from the field and to download that data to a database to generate reports for meters in the districts. The data can be collected intermittently or on a daily basis since these are not route based data collectors. The data is collected by means of a hand held portable unit that scans a bar code identification label that is permanently affixed to the meter. Data is then entered by means of a keypad or a scan sheet and the operator goes to the next meter. At the end of the day the unit …

Irrigation Water Balance Fundamentals, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Water balances are essential for making wise decisions regarding water conservation and water management. The paper defines the essential ingredients of water balances, and distinguishes between farm and district-level balances. An example of a hypothetical district-level balance is provided. The importance of listing confidence intervals is highlighted. Classic errors in water balance determination are noted

Water Balance-Related Performance Indicators For International Projects, Charles M. Burt, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

A unique study to examine the impacts of irrigation project modernization was funded by the Research Committee of the World Bank and managed by the International Program for Technology Research in Irrigation and Drainage (IPTRID). The project examined 16 irrigation projects in 10 developing countries, 15 of which have been partially modernized in some aspects of hardware and/or management. Besides developing specific recommendations for donor agencies interested in irrigation project modernization, this project also accomplished the following: 1. A Rapid Appraisal Process (RAP) was developed to quickly (within a week) evaluate an irrigation project to assess what type of modernization …

Subsurface Flows Water Balance Components For Irrigation Districts In The San Joaquin Valley, Stuart W. Styles, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Cal Poly ITRC has conducted several water balances for regions or districts within the San Joaquin Valley. In each case, the greatest unknown component for the water balance is subsurface flows (ITRC, 1994). Water balance calculations can be confusing, especially in districts where there is groundwater pumping. This paper will discuss ITRC efforts to determine both lateral and vertical components of subsurface flow, the accuracy of the estimates, and the impact upon the accuracy of the final estimates of irrigation district or regional irrigation efficiencies.

Closure To "Irrigation Performance Measures: Efficiency And Uniformity", Albert J. Clemmens, Charles M. Burt, Kenneth H. Solomon, Terry A. Howell, Theodor S. Strelkoff

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Managing District Data Needs – Narrowing In On A Moving Target, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

San Luis Water District, Panoche Water District, Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District (DEID), Westside Water District, Glide-Kanawha Water District (GKWD), and Central California Irrigation District (CCID) are blazing data management trails in the Mid-Pacific Region of the USBR. Ditchriders in these districts use or are beginning to use hand held data recorders (HHDR) to gather field information. The data management needs of these districts differ and as a result, the approach for each district differs. Further, each district is tackling portions of its data management needs in a stepwise fashion. The success of each step and the successes of other district approaches …

Evaluation Of Subsurface Drip Irrigation On Peppers, Stuart W. Styles, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This paper is a summary of two farms that utilized the California Energy Commission's low-interest loan program to facilitate their entry into drip irrigation. One farm is located near Oxnard, California, USA and the other is located near Gilroy, California, USA. Both of these growers farm about 162 hectares (400 acres) in their overall operations and used the loans to purchase subsurface drip irrigation systems for Peppers. Over $4 million in low-interest loans have been made available to California growers from the California Energy Commission (CEC) since 1986. The CEC initiated the loan program for growers to help implement energy …

Irrigation Sagacity: A Measure Of Prudent Water Use, Kenneth H. Solomon, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Within the western United States, water rights are granted for reasonable and beneficial water use, and a measure of irrigation performance that embodies this standard is needed. A new performance parameter, irrigation sagacity (IS), is recommended for this purpose. The term `sagacity' comes from `sagacious', meaning wise or prudent. IS is more closely tied to the water rights granted, and to the potential for water conservation and reallocation than is the traditional irrigation efficiency, which considers only beneficial uses. Sagacious uses are either beneficial, or non-beneficial but reasonable. Reasonable uses are those that, while not directly benefiting agronomic production within …

Problems Of Irrigation In Developing Countries, Phillip Z. Kirpich, Dorota Z. Haman, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This paper describes the crucial importance of irrigated agriculture to developing countries and to the world as a whole. This is followed by a summary of key problems that restrict and diminish the benefits of irrigated agriculture. Solution of these problems will above all require a holistic approach and will require changes in the institutions involved. These institutions include those of the developing countries, of the developed countries that provide aid, and of the international financing and technical-assistance agencies. Engineers in the developed countries have had, and will continue to have, a leading role but will need some redirection. ASCE …

District Application Of Hand Held Data Recorder Technology, Stuart Styles, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

A hand held data recorder (HHDR) enables a district to collect field data in a quick and virtually error-free manner. These units can be used to scan bar code location/equipment identifiers or the operator can manually key in this information followed by the current data. Some HHDRs can be programmed with error checking routines that prompt the operator when an entry is inconsistent with regards to the previous reading from that location. Each entry includes a time and date stamp. When the operator has collected all of the data for the day or for a route, the data is downloaded …

Simple, Portable Water Level Monitoring Package, Charles M. Burt, Stuart Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Electronic water level sensing equipment is becoming increasingly important for the implementation of water conservation programs in irrigation districts. A need has risen for information on costs, advantages/disadvantages, required support equipment, and required maintenance for the various options. For this reason, the Water Conservation Office of the Mid-Pacific Region of the USBR contracted with the Cal Poly ITRC to conduct a study on water level sensors and dataloggers and to produce a report.

One application covered in the water level sensor and datalogger report is the need to have a simple, portable water level monitoring package. This paper supplements the …

Fertigation Basics, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Fertigation is widely practiced with drip irrigation, yet remains very unsophisticated. Major areas which need improvement are (i) making certain the irrigation system applies water with a high DU (uniformity), (ii) using proper injection pumps and protection hardware, (iii) recognizing that chemicals can interact with each other and with water to form precipitates which will clog emitters, (iv) understanding of nutrient ratios in plants and soil, (v) recognizing that nitrogen fertilization requires attention to the type of nitrogen, and (vi) developing programs for spoon-feeding chemicals. This paper covers the first 4 topics, plus discusses some specific fertilizers.

Chemicals For Fertigation, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Modern Water Control And Management Practices In Irrigation: Impact On Performance, Charles M. Burt, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This research addressed the basic questions of what levels of water delivery service are presently provided by irrigation projects having some aspect of modernization; what hardware and software features impact those levels of service; whether modern water control and management practices in irrigation make a positive difference in performance; and what universal lessons can be learned and applied.

Selection Of Irrigation Methods For Agriculture: Drip/Micro Irrigation, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The ASCE On-Farm Committee has recently completed a draft of a manual (Bliesner et al, 1998) on "Selection of Irrigation Methods for Agriculture." One of the chapters describes drip/micro irrigation methods. Numerous variations of drip/micro designs are discussed, along with advantages and disadvantages. This paper provides an overview of some aspects of that chapter.

Drip/Micro Irrigation Survey For Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Delano-Earlimart ID (DEID) has kept informal statistics on the use of drip and micro-irrigation (drip/micro) within its boundaries for several years. These statistics showed that there has been only a slight increase in the acreage of these systems over the past 10 years. Because the rate and extent of conversion to drip/micro may influence the type of future water delivery service needed from DEID, DEID management is interested in knowing more about farmer perceptions regarding these newer irrigation methods.

DEID obtained a grant from USBR Mid-Pacific region to examine perceptions of its farmers regarding future conversions to drip and micro-irrigation. …

Improving Water Properties To Increase Infiltration Characteristics, Richard W. O. Soppe, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Water properties, such as the viscosity and surface tension, can be affected by temperature and surfactants to Increase infiltration rates into soils. Specifically, they will change the hydraulic conductivity of the soil. A simple soap solution and the new material PAM (inexpensive polymer chemical) were evaluated as surfactants. Laboratory experiments and field tests on a site in Davis, California were done to quantify the effects of changing the water properties. Additional effects, like the improved soil structure during infiltration and less soil particles in tailwater (reduced erosion due to runoff) were observed and are described in this paper. The conclusions …

On Farm Irrigation - The Shift From Art To Science, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Excellent on-farm irrigation management and design have traditionally been promoted for reasons of improved yields and farm input costs. More recently, external pressures require even more detail to on-farm irrigation. These external pressures include competition for water by urban and environmental interests, plus degradation of aquifers and rivers. As irrigation progresses from an art to a science, new concepts must be adopted. Key points made in the paper relate to flexible water deliveries to farms, improved fertigation practices, the importance of on-farm irrigation evaluations, the use of an Irrigation Consumer Bill of Rights by dealers and farmers, and irrigation system …